This past Friday saw WWE release eight performers from their contracts, in a move that represented a throwback for the company, who for years had been avoiding the negative PR associated with releasing talent, by instead just not renewing contracts.
PROGRESS returned to Camden on April 24 for Chapter 29 – “Practically Progress In Every Way” – with a show that featured a pair of matches for WWE’s Global Cruiserweight Series, and the finals of their latest Natural Progression Series. This would be an opportunity for the company to further put themselves on the map – and they grabbed the chance with both hands.
Everyone’s gotta start somewhere. Whether it’s a character whose first impressions become famous for the wrong reasons (Shockmaster) or for all the right reasons, you only get one chance to make a first impression. This week on Random Reviews, we look at a series of debut matches.
We return to Camden’s Electric Ballroom, for PROGRESS’ Chapter 21 event from September 2015, entitled “You Know We Don’t Like To Use The Sit Down Gun”. Google it – you’ll find a video of a talking bird!
Since January 4’s Wrestling Kingdom show, New Japan have been forced to undergo a few changes, thanks to the high-profile exists of four top stars. In spite of the losses of Messrs Styles, Nakamura, Gallows and Anderson, New Japan have kept rolling on, with Tetsuya Naito’s capture of the IWGP Heavyweight title sending the company in a new direction.
Payback… is a bitch. At least, that’s how the saying goes. This year’s show was shuffled to be the post-WrestleMania pay-per-view, much like Backlash and Extreme Rules. However, 2016’s Payback featured a card that, on paper, looked to be WrestleMania level, especially with the introduction of new faces.
Immediately after WWE’s Payback event on Sunday, the WWE Network was host to the debut episode of their new animated comedy, “Camp WWE”.
Later tonight, WWE rolls into Chicago for their traditional (err) post-WrestleMania pay-per-view… Extreme PayBackLash! Wait, why have they changed it again?